dmer
02-26-2008, 11:02 AM
Several days ago, my Lotrel dose was reduced from 10/40 to 5/40 with 5/20 next, when my present supply runs out in 2 weeks.
The first couple of days, I didn't notice any difference, especially during my exercise regimen, where all physical and mental conditions manifest themselves!
3rd Day, my post exercise BP reading was 20 points higher on the systolic side, but still "normal" at 120. The overall feeling from the dose change was like going from a tranquilized to a normal state, even theough the new normal felt like my pulse was racing . Additionally, during the most strenuous portion of my exercise, I was aware of a little more burning sensation in my lungs and a slight tightness in the chest area.
I have to admit that when this occurred, my first desire was to reach for a little 5MG tab of Amlodipine and augment my dose. When upping my initial dose of 5/20 to 10/40, that transition was weird and now another version of change.
Do we become too sensitive to the fluctuations of our body chemistry?
The first couple of days, I didn't notice any difference, especially during my exercise regimen, where all physical and mental conditions manifest themselves!
3rd Day, my post exercise BP reading was 20 points higher on the systolic side, but still "normal" at 120. The overall feeling from the dose change was like going from a tranquilized to a normal state, even theough the new normal felt like my pulse was racing . Additionally, during the most strenuous portion of my exercise, I was aware of a little more burning sensation in my lungs and a slight tightness in the chest area.
I have to admit that when this occurred, my first desire was to reach for a little 5MG tab of Amlodipine and augment my dose. When upping my initial dose of 5/20 to 10/40, that transition was weird and now another version of change.
Do we become too sensitive to the fluctuations of our body chemistry?
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bethsheba
02-26-2008, 12:14 PM
...
Do we become too sensitive to the fluctuations of our body chemistry?
I don't know...but I do know that those meds can interfer "big time" with our body chemistry. I went back and forth between 5 mg of amlodipine and 10 mg of amlodine only to disco cold turkey. It took several weeks before my body returned to normal and bps leveled off. Actually, when I came off the med I experienced some of the lowest readings ever, which makes me think the dosage was too high in the first place!
I don't think you'll have nasty side effects withdrawing...you're just going to feel different as you get used to having "normal" bp.
Bethsheba
Do we become too sensitive to the fluctuations of our body chemistry?
I don't know...but I do know that those meds can interfer "big time" with our body chemistry. I went back and forth between 5 mg of amlodipine and 10 mg of amlodine only to disco cold turkey. It took several weeks before my body returned to normal and bps leveled off. Actually, when I came off the med I experienced some of the lowest readings ever, which makes me think the dosage was too high in the first place!
I don't think you'll have nasty side effects withdrawing...you're just going to feel different as you get used to having "normal" bp.
Bethsheba
dmer
02-26-2008, 05:41 PM
I don't think you'll have nasty side effects withdrawing...you're just going to feel different as you get used to having "normal" bp.
Bethsheba
Being "medicated" is certainly different from taking none and to a lesser degree, taking smaller doses. If someone has had a number of medications and varying doses, it strikes me as difficult to remember what a "normal" physical status might be. Thanks for the info.
Bethsheba
Being "medicated" is certainly different from taking none and to a lesser degree, taking smaller doses. If someone has had a number of medications and varying doses, it strikes me as difficult to remember what a "normal" physical status might be. Thanks for the info.
bethsheba
02-26-2008, 07:18 PM
... If someone has had a number of medications and varying doses, it strikes me as difficult to remember what a "normal" physical status might be. Thanks for the info.
Yes, what comes to mind is Flowergirl's reference to having a "new" normal.
Bethsheba
Yes, what comes to mind is Flowergirl's reference to having a "new" normal.
Bethsheba
flowergirl2day
02-26-2008, 08:13 PM
My "normal" as I told my co-worker is when I don't feel as if I am about to get sick. She understands as she has been on two medications at the age of 23 for several years and is considering taking a leave of absence because she now has depression. Her doctor is trying to make her start antidepressant meds and she is resisting. I talk to her a lot about meds and their side effects. She asks a lot of questions. She is smart as a whip and does a lot of her own research. She is suffering with side effects of her medication, one of the reasons she is determined not to take any more new ones and to turn to alternative medicine. This contributes to her depression, which is, by the way, one of the side effects of one of her meds.
FG
FG
dmer
02-27-2008, 11:04 AM
My "normal" as I told my co-worker is when I don't feel as if I am about to get sick. She understands as she has been on two medications at the age of 23 for several years and is considering taking a leave of absence because she now has depression. Her doctor is trying to make her start antidepressant meds and she is resisting. I talk to her a lot about meds and their side effects. She asks a lot of questions. She is smart as a whip and does a lot of her own research. She is suffering with side effects of her medication, one of the reasons she is determined not to take any more new ones and to turn to alternative medicine. This contributes to her depression, which is, by the way, one of the side effects of one of her meds.
FG
A drug induced depression is a nasty thing, particularly when your overall physical wellbeing depends on the substance causing it. Sometimes the choices are awful - fear of leaving one med and desperation to leave another.
I notice a subtle change in my mental state since lowering the CCB dose, but this might be particular to me. It's very hard to quantify in real terms. One effect might be that the endorphin releasing effects of exercise are muted by a CCB. In the last couple of days, I've had some of that post exercise sense of wellbeing I remember from the past and largely absent while on the higher CCB doses.
Which BP meds are the biggest offenders as far as causing depression?
FG
A drug induced depression is a nasty thing, particularly when your overall physical wellbeing depends on the substance causing it. Sometimes the choices are awful - fear of leaving one med and desperation to leave another.
I notice a subtle change in my mental state since lowering the CCB dose, but this might be particular to me. It's very hard to quantify in real terms. One effect might be that the endorphin releasing effects of exercise are muted by a CCB. In the last couple of days, I've had some of that post exercise sense of wellbeing I remember from the past and largely absent while on the higher CCB doses.
Which BP meds are the biggest offenders as far as causing depression?
bethsheba
02-27-2008, 12:37 PM
...I notice a subtle change in my mental state since lowering the CCB dose, but this might be particular to me. ...
Which BP meds are the biggest offenders as far as causing depression?
Some bp meds can mess up one's sleep and sleep disturbances can cause depression. CCB's (amlodipine, a ccb, interferred with my sleep) can do this and it may be that you are sleeping better on a lower dose, and as a result experiencing better mental health.
From my personal experience, atenolol, a beta blocker, was by far the worst when it came to causing depression...surprisingly enough, I experienced the least amount of fatigue on this med which I find somewhat ironic.
Bethsheba
Which BP meds are the biggest offenders as far as causing depression?
Some bp meds can mess up one's sleep and sleep disturbances can cause depression. CCB's (amlodipine, a ccb, interferred with my sleep) can do this and it may be that you are sleeping better on a lower dose, and as a result experiencing better mental health.
From my personal experience, atenolol, a beta blocker, was by far the worst when it came to causing depression...surprisingly enough, I experienced the least amount of fatigue on this med which I find somewhat ironic.
Bethsheba
flowergirl2day
02-27-2008, 11:31 PM
Beth is right about the meds affecting our sleep, moods and many other things. I checked the adverse effects tables in one of my drug books. I list only the bp medications (a fraction of the drugs in the tables with these effects) that may change or damage the nerves in some way. Side effects can vary considerably from person to person.
significant headache: caffeine, clonidine, felodipine, labetalol, nifedipine, propranolol
peripheral neuropathy: losartan (ARB)
myasthenia gravis syndrome: beta blockers, antibiotics
confusion, delirium or disorientation: beta blockers (some), clonidine, diuretics, lisinopril, methyldopa, propranolol
paranoid thinking: propranolol
emotional depression: beta blockers (some), CCBs, clonidine, methyldopa, metoprolol, propranolol, thiazide diuretics. May start weeks or MONTHS later
visual hallucinations: propranolol
xxxxx
adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): Hctz - will have to learn more about this!
flowergirl
significant headache: caffeine, clonidine, felodipine, labetalol, nifedipine, propranolol
peripheral neuropathy: losartan (ARB)
myasthenia gravis syndrome: beta blockers, antibiotics
confusion, delirium or disorientation: beta blockers (some), clonidine, diuretics, lisinopril, methyldopa, propranolol
paranoid thinking: propranolol
emotional depression: beta blockers (some), CCBs, clonidine, methyldopa, metoprolol, propranolol, thiazide diuretics. May start weeks or MONTHS later
visual hallucinations: propranolol
xxxxx
adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): Hctz - will have to learn more about this!
flowergirl
bethsheba
02-28-2008, 12:22 AM
.... I list only the bp medications (a fraction of the drugs in the tables with these effects) that may change or damage the nerves in some way. Side effects can vary considerably from person to person....
adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): Hctz - will have to learn more about this!
flowergirl
FG, It sounds like an excellent book!! I personally would be interested in seeing all of the bp meds that list sleep problems...I would bet that most of them do in some way.
Did you know that people can experience hallucinations if they don't get enough sleep? (note the propranolol).
If you find out anything about the hct and the breathing problems, would you let me know? I came across my pharmacy records and based on what I saw there I was using lots and lots of nasonex during my hct days!!
Flowergirl, I do hope you're feeling better!!! Do think of you always!
Bethsheba
adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): Hctz - will have to learn more about this!
flowergirl
FG, It sounds like an excellent book!! I personally would be interested in seeing all of the bp meds that list sleep problems...I would bet that most of them do in some way.
Did you know that people can experience hallucinations if they don't get enough sleep? (note the propranolol).
If you find out anything about the hct and the breathing problems, would you let me know? I came across my pharmacy records and based on what I saw there I was using lots and lots of nasonex during my hct days!!
Flowergirl, I do hope you're feeling better!!! Do think of you always!
Bethsheba